Prevalence of Kennedy Classifications in Removable Partial Denture-Treated Population: A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of Kennedy’s classification and its distribution among partially edentulous individuals in the maxillary and mandibular arches separately. A cross-sectional retrospective study was performed in which 542 removable partial dentures were fabricated from 1 October 2024 to 1 May 2026. Records of 341 patients documented in the teaching hospital of the College of Dentistry, Mustansiriyah University, were reviewed and analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (chi-square test and multinomial regression analysis) for checking association and relation between age, gender, occupation, area of residency, and medical condition and the type of Kennedy classification. Kennedy class III had the highest prevalence in the maxilla, and Kennedy class I was reported to be dominant in the mandible. The prevalence of partial edentulism is higher among 41-50 years of age, with a male predilection. There was a significant association (P<0.05) between the type of Kennedy classification in the maxillary arch and age, gender, occupation, and area of residency. Concurrently, only age, occupation, and medical history were associated with Kennedy classification in the mandible. Collectively, age, gender, residential location, occupation, and systemic disease may influence the distribution of Kennedy classification in the maxilla (χ² = 64.25, df = 24, p < 0.001) and mandible (χ² = 43.34, df = 24, p = 0.009), but their effect alone is limited. Classes I and II increased with age.